Coalbed gas production systems

ABSTRACT

A method of stimulating coalbed methane production by injecting gas into a producer and subsequently placing the producer back on production is described. A decrease in water production may also result. The increase in gas production and decrease in water production may result from: (1) the displacement of water from the producer by gas; (2) the establishment of a mobile gas saturation at an extended distance into the coalbed, extending outward from the producer; and (3) the reduction in coalbed methane partial pressure between the coal matrix and the coal&#39;s cleat system.

This is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No.10/219,360, filed Aug. 14, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,411 issued Nov.16, 2004, which is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No.09/875,658, filed Jun. 6, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,256 issued Sep.17, 2002, which is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No.09/338,295, filed Jun. 23, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,338 issued Jun.12, 2001 which claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No.60/090,306 filed on Jun. 23, 1998, each hereby incorporated by referenceherein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, this invention relates to the improved production of coalbedgas from substantially solid subterranean formations including coalbeds.Specifically, this invention relates to the use of a stimulation gas tomanipulate the physical and chemical properties of such subterraneanformations and to increasing the quantity, quality and rate ofproduction of coalbed gases associated with such subterraneanformations.

A significant quantity of coalbed gas is physically bound (or sorbed)within coalbeds. This coalbed gas, which was formed during theconversion of vegetable material into coal, consists primarily ofmethane. Because it is primarily methane, coal gas is commonly termedcoalbed methane. Typically, more than 95% of the coalbed methane isphysically bound (adsorbed) onto the surface of the coalbed matrix.

Coal may be characterized as having a dual porosity character, whichconsists of micropores and macropores. The micropore system is containedwithin the coal matrix. The micropores are thought to be impervious towater; however, the vast majority of coalbed methane contained by thecoalbed is adsorbed onto the walls associated with the micropores. Themacropores represent the cleats within the coal seam. Face and buttcleats are interspersed throughout the coal matrix and form a fracturesystem within the coalbed. The face cleats are continuous and accountfor the majority of the coalbed's permeability. Butt cleats aregenerally orthogonal to the face cleats but are not continuous withinthe coal. On production, the coalbed matrix feeds the cleat system andthe desorbed coalbed gas is subsequently removed from the coalbed atproduction wells.

Several important problems limit the economic viability of coalbedmethane production. The first is the handling of produced water fromwater-saturated coalbeds. The handling of produced water can be asignificant expense in coalbed methane recovery. In a typicalwater-saturated reservoir, water must first be depleted to some extentfrom the cleat system before significant coalbed methane productioncommences. Water handling involves both pumping and disposal costs. Ifthe coalbed is significantly permeable and fed by an active aquifer, itmay be impossible to dewater the coal and induce gas production.Production of significant quantities of water from an active aquifer maybe legally restricted and may result in lawsuits from others who rely onthe affected water supply. Disposal of the produced water can presentseveral problems. The water may be discharged to the surface and allowedto evaporate. If sufficiently clean, the water may be used foragricultural purposes. Finally, the water may be reinjected into thecoal. All of these disposal methods require environmental permitting andare subject to legal restrictions. Many conventional coalbed gasproduction systems only displace water in the vicinity of the productionwell which results in a short coalbed gas production period which lastsonly hours or a few days. One example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,544,037. Gas production stops when the water returns to the coalbedsurrounding the production well.

The second problem which limits the economic viability of coalbed gasproduction is maintaining the appropriate removal rate of coalbed gas asit is desorbed from the coalbed. As the pressure in the immediatevicinity of the producer decreases, a quantity of gas desorbs from thecoal and begins to fill the cleat system. If the water is excluded fromthe coalbed surrounding coalbed gas production well, and as gasdesorption continues, the gas phase becomes mobile and begins to flow tothe low-pressured producer. With the existence of a mobile gas phase,the pressure drawdown established at the production well is moreefficiently propagated throughout the coalbed. Gas more efficientlypropagates a pressure wave compared to water because gas issignificantly more compressible. As the pressure decline within thecoalbed continues, gas desorption, and therefore gas production,accelerates.

There is an important relationship between these two present productionproblems. The rate of gas diffusion from the coal can only be maximizedby maintaining the lowest possible production well pressure, however,excessively low pressures increase water production. Conventionalproduction practices overcome the diffusion-limited desorption ofmethane from the coal matrix by using such excessively low productionwell pressures, or do not set coalbed gas removal rates as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 4,544,037, allowing rate-controlling diffusion of coalbedgas and water encroachment to limit the economic life of the coalbedmethane production well.

A related problem is coalbed structure water permeability. Increasedwater permeability allows water that is displaced from a coalbed toreturn more rapidly which results in increased waterhandling or ashorter economic lifespan of the coalbed reservior. Conventionalproduction techniques do not effectively deal with the waterpermeability of the coalbed structure.

Another conventional coalbed gas production problem is the contaminationof the coalbed gas removed from the coalbed with stimulation gas. As butone example, Amoco Production Co. (Amoco) has developed a method ofincreasing coalbed methane production by increasing the pressuredifference between the coal matrix and the cleat system (diffusional,partial-pressure driving force) (U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,122). As thatpatent discloses, Amoco injects an inert stimulation gas (such asnitrogen) into an injection well. Nitrogen is less sorptive than coalbedmethane and tends to remain in the cleat space. The injected nitrogendrives the resulting gas mixture to one or more producing wells, wherethe mixture is recovered at the surface. By the end of a year'sproduction, the product gas may contain approximately 20 volume percentnitrogen. The simulated production rate profiles resulting from acontinuous nitrogen injection are shown in FIG. 5. The point labeled Pin FIG. 5 is the production rate immediately prior to application of thestimulation gas enhanced method. As is evident, the increase in gasproduction due to nitrogen injection is immediate and substantial. Muchof the dramatic increase in early-time gas production results from thereduction in partial pressure of methane in the cleat system. Part ofthe improved recovery results from the increase in reservoir pressurethat results from the injection of nitrogen into the coalbed. However,much of the production over the long term contains quantities ofnitrogen which are substantially higher than minimum standards forpipeline natural gas.

Similarly, other ECBM methods which are designed to desorb gas by theinjection of gas into an injection well and recover gas mixtures at oneor more producing wells have high levels of contaminating stimulationgas in the coalbed gas removed at the production well. These techniquesgenerally employ the use of C0 ₂ or C0 ₂-nitrogen mixtures as disclosedby U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,454,666 and 4,043,395; and as disclosed in anAlberta Research Council press release. C0 ₂ is more sorptive thanmethane and tends to be adsorbed by the coal matrix. Therefore, theresponse of methane at the producers is attenuated. However, as with theabove mentioned methods, these ECBM methods produce coalbed gas withhigh levels of stimulation gas. Therefore, as with the other abovementioned methods a gas cleanup process is required.

Another problem with injection of stimulation gas into a separate welllocated a distance from the production well is the production ofincreased water. In fact, Amoco's ECBM technique may increase overallwater production because the increased quantity of coalbed gas thatresults from this injection-desorption process may tend to sweepadditional quantities of water to the producer.

Yet another problem with convention coalbed gas production is high cost.Many of the above mentioned methods use stimulation gas at high pressurewhich requires the use of expensive, high-capacity, multistage gascompressors. Similarly, other methods also use high pressure asdisclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,419,396; 5,417,286; and 5,494,108. Highcosts are also associated with the use of carbon dioxide gas asdisclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,395, and in the continuous use ofcoalbed gases during coalbed gas production as disclosed by U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,883,122; 5,014,785; and 4,043,395.

Each of these problems of conventional coalbed gas production areaddressed by the instant invention disclosed.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Accordingly, the broad goal of the instant invention is to increasecoalbed gas recovery by stimulation of the coalbed formation. Theinvention improves on the previously mentioned ECBM recovery techniques.The present invention comprises a variety of coalbed stimulationtechniques which are applied to coalbed methane production wells. Thetechniques serve to displace and confine water, alter the permeabilityof coalbed fracture systems, establish optimal coalbed stimulation gasamounts and coalbed gas removal rates, and as a result operate to limitwater production rates in water-saturated coalbeds and reducestimulation gas content in produced coalbed gas. The methods are simple,economical and time efficient. Naturally, as a result of these severaldifferent and potentially independent aspects of the invention, theobjects of the invention are quite varied.

Another of the broad objects of the invention is to provide a numericalsimulator which simulates the flow of water and gas phases around wellswhich communicate with coalbed gas. Simulation of gas desorption andsorption between the coalbed and the cleat system and the interrelatedeffects of pressure gradients, fluid viscosity, absolute permeabilityand liquid-gas phase permeability allows prediction of coalbed gasproduction. This allows various aspects of the instant invention to beoptimized which when used separately or in combination increase coalbedgas production.

Yet another object of the invention is to eliminate the necessity forseparate coalbed gas stimulation injection wells and coalbed gasproduction wells. As mentioned above most conventional coalbedproduction practices use a separate stimulation injection well and aseparate coalbed gas production well. This practice leads to a varietyof problems with water handling and contamination of the coalbed gasproduced. It is therefore desirable to establish a method which uses theproduction well for both stimulation gas injection and also for coalbedgas removal.

Another object of the invention is the convenient and effective waterdisplacement or confinement of water which surrounds coalbed gasproduction wells. Water handling as mentioned above is both costly andinconvenient. An effective method of displacing water from a large areaof the coalbed surrounding the production well into the adjacent coalbedarea would eliminate the necessity of handling at least a portion ofthat coalbed water.

Another object of the invention is to establish a reduced waterpermeability of the coalbed so as to exclude at least of portion of thedisplaced water. A reduced water permeability coalbed prevents or slowsthe rate of water encroachment around production wells. From the pointof commercializing production of coalbed gas, having less water in thecoalbed gas reservoir translates into less water to handle and todispose of, increased coalbed gas recovery, and coalbed gas with lesswater content. By eliminating the problems associated with coalbedwater, production rates are increased and there is less cost per unitvolume of production.

An additional object of the invention is to produce clean coalbed gasfrom a stimulated coalbed. Coalbed gas containing less than about fourper cent per unit volume of coalbed gas does not have to be cleaned upbefore it is used. Clean coalbed gas, as a result, costs less to produceper unit volume than coalbed gas produced using conventional stimulationtechniques. A predictable method of producing clean coalbed gas istherefore highly desirable.

Another object of the invention is to calculate the rate at whichcoalbed gas should be removed from the coalbed or other subterraneanformation. Desorption of coalbed gas from coalbed formations is a ratelimiting step with regard to production. Desorption of coalbed gas isincreased when the coalbed is stimulated and when the desorbed gas isremoved. Optimal removal rates of coalbed gas from the production wellestablishes a desirable balance between a lowered pressure which inducescontinual desorption of coalbed gas from the coal matrix and yet not solow as to draw previously displaced water back into the coalbedreservoir.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the cost of coalbed gasproduction. Most conventional coalbed gas stimulation techniques utilizecontinuous high pressure injection of stimulation gas during theproduction of coalbed gas. Additionally, many techniques utilizepurified gas which necessitates fractionation of atmospheric gas. Thisnecessitates the long term use of expensive multistage gas compressorsand fractionation equipment. Moreover, many techniques also requireseparate injection wells and production wells and then subsequentpurification of the produced coalbed gas. As such, these techniques maybe prohibitively expensive to use. The instant invention eliminates manyof these expensive features and steps allowing coalbed gas to beproduced at a considerably lower cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a graph of typical coalbed production rates using conventionalrecovery techniques.

FIG. 2 is a graph of typical sandstone production rates usingconventional recovery techniques.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of a particular embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 4 is a graph of the relative ability of water and gas to flow as afunction of the water saturation of a coalbed.

FIG. 5 is a graph of a simulated conventional production history of acoalbed continuously stimulated with nitrogen gas.

FIG. 6 is a depiction of the dual porosity structure of coal.

FIG. 7 is a particular embodiment of the pattern of a production well inrelation to water confinement wells.

FIG. 8 is a graph which compares the coalbed gas production from anunstimulated coalbed and a stimulated coalbed gas using a particularembodiment of this invention with nitrogen.

FIG. 9 is a graph which compares the coalbed gas production from astimulated coalbed using the instant invention which was previouslyproduced by conventional unstimulated coalbed methods.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As can be easily understood, the basic concepts of the present inventionmay be embodied in a variety of ways. It involves both treatmenttechniques as well as devices to accomplish the appropriate treatment.In this application, the treatment techniques are disclosed as part ofthe results shown to be achieved by the various devices described and assteps which are inherent to utilization. They are simply the naturalresult of utilizing the devices as intended and described. In addition,while some devices are disclosed, it would be understood that these notonly accomplish certain methods but also can be varied in a number ofways. Importantly, as to all of the foregoing, all of these facetsshould be understood to be encompassed by this disclosure.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are generally representative of conventional gasproduction profiles for typical coalbed and sandstone formations.Production from the coalbed formation (FIG. 1) is characterized by aninitial period of high water production and low gas production. The gasproduction rate increases with the partial depletion of water and thelowering of pressure in the coalbed. As described earlier, the loweringof pressure results in the desorption of coalbed methane from the coalmatrix. The gas rate falls off in the later stages of production. Thisdecline in production results from at least two factors: (1) a depletionof sorbed methane from the coal and (2) a rate-controlling diffusion ofgas from the coal that is related to the difference in pressure betweenthe coal matrix and the cleat system.

In comparison, the gas production from a sandstone formation is oftenrelated only to reservoir pressure (FIG. 2). The gas is contained withinthe sandstone's pore space. Gas production is highest initially becausereservoir pressure and gas content are at a maximum. Production ratedeclines as gas content and, therefore, reservoir pressure declines.Water rate increases as pressure declines, either because of waterencroachment or because of an increase in the permeability to water asthe pore space collapses as shown in FIG. 4.

The production of coalbed methane from a water-saturated coal resourcewith the instant invention may involve displacing water surrounding theproduction well or wells without disrupting the coalbed structure orconfinement of the displaced water so that it does not encroach upon thedewatered coalbed gas reservoir during coalbed gas production. This canbe subsequently followed by the following three steps: (1) production ofgas and lowering of pressure in the immediate vicinity of the wellbore;(2) the desorption of coalbed methane from the coal matrix into thecleats due to the pressure reduction; and (3) the accelerated productionof mobile coalbed methane gas from the coalbed as the radius ofinfluence of the pressure drawdown increases throughout the coalbed. Thepresent invention operates to improve the efficiency of all theseproduction steps and production mechanisms.

As depicted in FIG. 3, the present invention stimulates a producer byinjecting an appropriate quantity or amount of coalbed stimulation gas(1) into at least one production well (2). This is accomplished by usinga compressor or other stimulation gas transfer element (3) perhapsjoined to the annular region production well by a gas plenum havingcontrol valves or other production well coupling element (4) responsiveto both the stimulation gas transfer element and the production well.The injected stimulation gas flows into the coalbed (5) in the vicinityof the production well. Conceivably, any gas can be used, but the mostpreferable is a gas that is less sorptive than methane, such as nitrogenbut may also be carbon dioxide. The optimum injection gas may be airbecause it's free and is 80% nitrogen. Water (6) which is associatedwith the coalbed or a part of the coalbed surrounding the productionwell has a hydrostatic pressure. The coalbed stimulation gas (1) can bedelivered to the coalbed at a pressure greater than that of thehydrostatic pressure of the water and the water is displaced a distancefrom the well. With continued injection, a region of gas saturation isestablished at an extended distance into the coalbed therebyestablishing a water displacement perimeter (7). This operationeffectively partially de-waters the coalbed without producing water tothe surface. Optimally, the pressure is not substantially larger thanthe hydrostatic pressure of the water so as not to disrupt the coalbedstructure. One or more water confinement wells (8) may be established adistance from the production well or at the water displacement perimeteror at the production well drainage radius to remove water encroachingupon the production well. Removal of water may be accomplished by use ofa pump or other water transfer element (9) coupled to the confinementwell through a variety of water confinement coupling elements (10). Atleast water is removed from the confinement wells although gas may alsobe removed from the stimulated coalbed reservoir from the confinementwell as necessary to assist the production well in removal of coalbedgas from the coalbed gas reservoir at the required removal rate throughvarious coupling elements (7). The area swept by the injected coalbedstimulation gas by this method may be significantly greater than theradius of pressure drawdown that results from initially de-watering awell by conventional production methods. Assuming the injected gas iscomposed substantially of nitrogen, the coalbed's cleat system isinitially occupied by a gas that contains little methane (15).

At the time the injection of coalbed stimulation gas ceases and theproduction well is about to be placed on production by lowering itspressure any of the following conditions have been created by thestimulated coalbed gas reservoir (11) which should improve gasproduction rate at the production well and reduce the water productionrate at the production well compared to conventional production methods.First, at least a partial saturation of coalbed stimulation gas has beenestablished at an extended distance into the coalbed. As a result, thepartial pressure driving force for coalbed methane desorption is high.This saturation will also serve as an efficient medium for transferringthrough the cleat system or drawdown the reduction in pressure of water.This drawdown may be accomplished by a pump or water removal element(12) coupled to the production well with any of a variety of productionwell coupling elements (13) that results from simultaneously removingcoalbed gas and water from the coalbed by means of the production wellfor producer.

Second, the water saturation has been decreased, which reduces itsability to flow to the producer. The ability of water to flow (waterpermeability of the coalbed) as a function of water saturation isconceptually depicted in FIG. 4. In a gas-water system, permeability towater drops as the water saturation decreases. The ability of a well toproduce water is directly proportional to the coalbed's permeability towater, as shown by the equation:qw=PI×Krw×ΔP, where

qw=water production rate from a producer;

PI=productivity index of the well;

Krw=relative permeability to water; and

)66 P=difference in pressure between producing well and adjacentcoalbed.

Conversely, because of the increased gas saturation, the permeability togas, and therefore its production rate, will be increased.

Third, the coalbed stimulation gas injected into the cleat system willinitially promote a reduced methane content (i.e., concentration) in thecleats, which will increase the desorption rate of methane from the coalmatrix to the coal's cleat system by the method of partial pressurereduction. The dual porosity structure in coal is depicted in simpleform in FIG. 6. Recall that the cleat system is drained by the producingwells, and notice that the cleat system surrounds the coal matrix. Therelative locations where the partial pressures of coalbed methane arecalculated in the cleats and the coal matrix are also shown in FIG. 6.During the injection phase of this invention, coalbed stimulation gasreplaces a portion of the water as part of the displacement process.Initially, the gas in the cleat system will contain a low-volumefraction of methane and therefore, be at a low partial pressure ofmethane. The idealized relationship that equates partial pressure ofcoalbed methane in the cleats to local cleat pressure and volumefraction of coalbed methane is shown by the following equation:P _(CH4) =P _(CLEAT) ×V _(CH4), where

-   -   P_(CH4)=partial pressure of coalbed methane in the cleats;    -   P_(CLEAT)=Absolute pressure in the cleat at a particular spatial        location; and    -   V_(CH4)=Volume fraction of coalbed methane in the cleat measured        at the same location as P_(CLEAT)        A conceptual relationship that relates the gas desorption rate        from the coal matrix to the cleats as a function of their        respective partial pressures is shown by the following equation:        Q _(DSORB) =K×(P _(COAL) −P _(CH4)) where    -   Q_(DSORB)=Rate of coalbed methane desorption from coal matrix to        the cleat system;    -   K=A group of terms assumed to be constant for this example;    -   P_(COAL)=Partial pressure of coalbed methane adsorbed onto the        surface of the coal matrix at a particular spatial location; and    -   P_(CH4)=Partial pressure of coalbed methane existing in the        cleats measured at the same location as P_(COAL)

The above mentioned relationships will show a close dependence betweenrate of desorption and the difference in partial pressure, which iscalled the diffusional, partial-pressure driving force. All of theabove-mentioned factors should increase the coalbed methane productionrate and decrease the water production rate. More complex relationshipsare possible and may require the use of a numerical simulator such asWRICBM model entitled “Development Of A Portable Data Acquisition SystemAnd Coalbed Methane Simulator, Part 2: Development Of A Coalbed MethaneSimulator” which is attached to this application and hereby incorporatedby reference. The equations defined within WRICBM are time dependent,interrelated (coupled) and non-liner in nature. WRICBM uses aniterative, simultaneous method to solve the equations for each discretevolume element or coalbed characteristic of a coalbed at every point intime. A general and simplified description of the WRICBM's formulationand equation set follows.

WRICBM models a dual-porosity formation in which a stationary,non-porous, non-permeable matrix communicates with a porous, permeablematrix. The stationary matrix represents the coal. The permeable matrixrepresents the coalbed's cleat (fracture) system. Water and gases onlyflow within the permeable matrix. Gases exchange between the stationaryand matrix elements. This feature simulates gas desorption/sorptionbetween the coalbed's coal and cleat systems. The movement of gases andwater phases within the permeable matrix are described by the generallyaccepted multi-phase modification of Darcy flow. Therefore, thetransport of the fluids are subject to the effects of pressure gradientsfor each phase, fluid viscosity, absolute permeability, and liquid-gasphase relative permeability. The rate and quantity of gasdesorption/sorption between the stationary and permeable matrix systemscan optionally be determined by equilibrium controlled, pseudo-unsteadystate controlled, and fully unsteady state controlled transportmechanisms. Equilibrium transport assumes that the pressure in the coalis the same as the pressure in the local fracture system. Thus, there isno time delay for gas sorbing or desorbing with respect to the coal. Thepseudo-unsteady state transport assumes an average concentration of gassorbed within the coal and a diffusional time delay for sorbed gasmovement within the coal. Fully unsteady state transport assumes aconcentration gradient of sorbed gas within the coal element with adiffusional delay for sorbed gas movement within the coal. For theunsteady state methods, the sorbed gas concentration at the surfaces ofeach coal element are functions of the local partial pressures at thecleat matrix. Partial pressure is the product of the reservoir pressureand the individual mole fraction of each gas species present. Themulti-component, Extended Langmuir relationship relates the quantity ofindividual gas component sorbed to respective gas partial pressure.

The following set of equations are solved simultaneously within WRICBMat each discrete timestep for each differential element of coalbed:

-   -   1. Material balance for water    -   2. Material balance for each gas component present in the        stationary-matrix, permeable-matrix system        As stated previously, Darcy flow describes the transport of        material with respect to each differential element's permeable        matrix. The quantity of gas desorbed/sorbed for each component        is represented in the respective gas material balance equation        by a source term. The rate of gas desorption/sorption is        dependent on the local partial pressure for each permeable        matrix's differential element and the corresponding sorbed        concentration of each gas component.

WRICBM calculates the flow of water and gas phases at the wells in thestandard way. The calculation uses viscosity for the phases,differential pressure between each phase's matrix pressure and thewellbore, and a productivity index that accounts for the radical natureof the well's drainage. Source terms couple the well equations to theindividual material balance equations.

As a result the invention has many embodiments and may be implemented indifferent ways to optimize the production of coalbed methane. The optionselected will depend on the determined characteristics of the coalbedreservoir and the conditions at the production well. This model may beinvaluable in utilizing the disclosed absorption and desorption ratecalculation elements, water displacement rate calculation elements,stimulation gas amount calculation elements, coalbed gas removalcalculation elements, and reduced permeability gas pressure calculationelements, although calculation elements may used manually or otherwise.Optimizing this process may require a knowledge of reservoir engineeringand the use of a coalbed methane simulator.

One embodiment of the invention uses a production well (12) to bothdeliver stimulation gas (1) to the coalbed gas reservoir and for theremoval of coalbed gas (14) from the coalbed gas reservoir (11). Asmentioned above this approach is different than most conventionalcoalbed gas production techniques which use a separate gas stimulationwell and a separate coalbed gas production well. Using the productionwell for both purposes eliminates many of the problems associated withconventional production methods which include excessive water productionat the coalbed gas production well, contamination of the producedcoalbed gas with excessive amounts of stimulation gas and the unintendedalteration of the coalbed structure to mention a few. With regard to theinstant invention, the gas may be injected into the coalbed for a briefperiod of time through the production well and the amount of stimulationgas may be limited. The producer may be subsequently placed back onproduction, and a dramatic increase in coalbed methane recovery andreduction in water production results. This approach may be applied tocoalbeds that are either substantially dry with little or no mobilewater saturation or applied to coalbeds that have a portion or all ofthe coalbed saturated with water (6). In the former case, the increasein production would not significantly involve changes in permeability tothe water or gas phases but will involve desorption of gas from the coalmatrix and possibly the immobile water. In the later case, the water inthe coalbed may be displaced from a large area surrounding theproduction well by the delivery of the stimulation gas to the productionwell. The de-watered coalbed gas reservoir volume may define a waterdisplacement perimeter (7). This invention or approach may require theuse of surrounding producers or water confinement wells (8) in additionto the stimulated well (or wells). During production of the stimulatedwells, these additional producers can limit the encroachment of waterthat has been displaced from the coalbed by the gas injection procedure.Used in the ways described above, these surrounding wells may beregarded as conventional, unstimulated producers or as water confinementwells that act as barriers between the stimulated coalbed region and thesurrounding aquifer. In a particular application of the embodiment andas shown in FIG. 7, the production well may be located at the centroidof a tract of land having an area of between approximately 40 and 320acres. The tract of land may optimally have a substantially squareperimeter but this may not necessarily be the case. Water confinementwells may be located approximately at the corners of the substantiallysquare perimeter to remove water encroaching upon the de-watered coalbedsurrounding the production well. The coalbed may be stimulated byinjecting coalbed stimulation gas through the production well for abrief period of eight to twelve days with an amount of coalbedstimulation gas to sweep a substantial portion of the dewatered coalbedreservoir. The injection of coalbed stimulation gas may be terminatedand the same well may be used for removal of coalbed gas and possiblywater at a rate which lowers the coalbed pressure in the coalbed andwhich is optimally never less than the rate at which the coalbed gas isdesorbed from the coalbed. A number of adjacent tracts of land may beproduced simultaneously by this method as yet another application ofthis same embodiment. This method may also be used on virgin orpreviously produced coalbed gas reservoirs.

A second embodiment of this invention is to decrease the waterpermeability of the coalbed formation. As mention above and as shown inFIG. 4 increased water contained in a coalbed allows increased flow ofwater to the coalbed. Permeability, as mentioned above, is also acharacteristic of coalbeds that have had the coalbed structure alteredby some conventional high pressure injection techniques. The instantinvention assesses the hydrostatic pressure of water associated with thecoalbed surrounding a production well. Subsequently, a coalbedstimulation gas having a pressure greater than the hydrostatic pressurebut with a pressure calculated to avoid altering the structure of thecoalbed is injected into the production well. A reduced waterpermeability calculation element may be used to assist in thesecalculations. The pressure of the injected coalbed stimulation gaslimited to a pressure not substantially greater than the hydrostaticpressure displaces at least a portion of the water in the coalbedwithout altering the coalbed structure. The de-watered coalbed havingthe same structure may be a reduced water permeability. To the extentthat the reduced water permeability excludes water from the coalbedreservoir the economic life of the coalbed is extended, a reduced volumeof water has to be removed by water confinement wells, and the coalbedgas produced may contain less water. In fact, overall water productionshould be lower than with any production scheme (ECBM or otherwise)because of the displacement of water from the coal and the reducedpermeability to water. Water handling costs should be lower as well,particularly relative to the quantities of coalbed methane produced.Naturally, this technique could be used in applications other than theproduction of coalbed gas where water permeability of the subterraneanformation is important.

Another embodiment of this invention comprises maintaining increaseddesorption of coalbed gases from the surface of the organic matrix ofsubterranean formation or coalbed. The production of coalbed gas from ade-watered coalbed can involve: (1) production of gas and lowering ofpressure in the immediate vicinity of the wellbore; (2) the desorptionof coalbed methane from the coal matrix into the cleats due to thepressure reduction; and (3) the accelerated production of mobile coalbedmethane gas from the coalbed as the radius of influence of the pressuredrawdown increases throughout the coalbed. These may be are optimizedwhen the coalbed gas desorption rate is known and the removal rate ofcoalbed gas from the coalbed is never less than the desorption rate fromthe surface of the organic matrix of the coalbed or subterraneanformation. However, withdrawal rates must not be so great as to lowerthe pressure of the formation so as to draw water into the coalbed. Oneaspect of this invention is therefore, a method of estimating thedesorption rate of the coalbed gas from the coalbed by calculating acoalbed gas desorption rate at which the coalbed gas desorbs from thecoalbed. Producing the estimate may involve the use of a desorption ratecalculation elements in the model. Based on this estimate, a gas removalrate is determined which is optimally never less than the calculatedcoalbed gas desorption rate. Determing the coalbed gas removal rate mayinvolve the use of a gas removal rate calculation element. Subsequently,the coalbed gas is removed from the production well at the calculatedcoalbed gas removal rate. Since this removal rate may be calculated tobe a value not substantially greater than the desorption rate thecoalbed may have a pressure which induces the least amount of water tobe drawn into the coalbed. The water confinement wells may also be usedto assist in the removal of coalbed gas to maintain or establish areduced coalbed gas reservoir pressure within the region of stimulatedproduction wells.

In an additional embodiment of the invention, an appropriate amount ofcoalbed stimulation gas to be used based upon determined characteristicsof the coalbed. One such characteristic may be sorbed coal gas volumealthough other characteristics could be determined and additionally thecharacteristics may be interdependent on one another. Simulations mayhave to be run to weigh these characteristics to estimate thestimulation gas having an appropriate amount to stimulate the coalbedreservoir. Because the amount of stimulation gas estimated is theminimum amount to stimulate the coalbed gas reservoir, coalbed gasremoved from the production well may not require cleanup for pipelineuse. In simulations of the present method with nitrogen, the nitrogencontent of the initially produced gas may be less than ten volumepercent and optimally less than four volume per cent, under stablestabilized coalbed gas removal conditions, and the percentage maydecrease with time. The clean coalbed gas having low levels ofcontamination by nitrogen, results from the limited quantities ofstimulation gas injected and its dilution from the large quantities ofthe coalbed methane gas mixture produced after stimulation.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the stimulation of aproducer may be accomplished by mechanical or chemical alteration of thecoal and coalbed's physical structure. These stimulation methods employhigh pressure coalbed stimulation gas, acid treatments or other coalbedalteration elements to induce fracturing and creation of cavities(cavitation). These forms of stimulation either extend the well'sdrainage radius by improving the coal's absolute permeability orincrease the well's productivity index. Thus, the mechanical andchemical techniques stimulate wells differently than the presentinvention and should be considered as a separate and distinct method ofenhancing production. However, it may be possible to achieve a furtherincrease in production by applying the present invention in addition toa mechanical or chemical stimulation. In any case, a limited degree offracturing may occur in the immediate vicinity of the well bore when thepresent invention is applied to a soft coal. This minor degree offracturing is probably an unavoidable consequence of injecting air intothe pressurized coalbed.

In another embodiment of the invention, several adjacent producerswithin a field may be stimulated simultaneously. This technique wouldde-water a large portion of the reservoir before the commencement ofproduction. The period of gas injection could be increased at a centralwell or to establish gas saturation at surrounding producers. Thistechnique may de-water a large region of the coalbed using a singlewell. A single well within a pattern could be stimulated for a limitedperiod before being placed on production. In this case, the outer wellscould serve as barriers to prevent water encroachment and to furtherreduce the overall pressure in the reservoir. Finally, a central regionof the reservoir comprising several wells can be de-watered by gasinjection, and a surrounding pattern of unstimulated producers can beused to prevent water encroachment into the dewatered area.

In yet another embodiment, the stimulation technique may be repeated ona particular well (or wells). The technique may also be used on wellsthat were previously produced by conventional means and are thereforepartially de-watered. The increase in recovery may not be as dramatic asits application to a virgin reservoir, but it may be significant.

In many of the above mentioned embodiments the stimulation compressioncosts are significantly reduced. This invention does not always employhigh injection pressures. In fact, it is most efficiently operated bymaintaining the lowest possible processing and reservoir pressures. Itis only necessary to moderately exceed the prevailing hydrostaticgradient. In addition, the gas injection (or stimulation cycle) is onlyperformed for a brief period. In comparison, a typical ECBM procedurerequires continuous or almost continuous injection at high injectionpressures and gas rates to drive the gas mixture to the producer.

Lastly, this invention may be applied to any reservoir material orsubterranean formation whose gas is physically held (sorbed) onto thesurface of an organic matrix and can be released by a reduction inpressure. In this manner water associated with a portion of the coalbedis displaced away from the coalbed.

EXAMPLES

The following examples of both apparatus and methods for coalbed gasreservoir simulation are representative and do not limit the possiblescenarios and variations of using this invention. A stimulation gas isapplied to a production well located within a five-spot repeated patternof producers on 320-acre spacings as shown in FIG. 7. The coalbed isfully water-saturated and has not been previously produced. Thepermeability of the coalbed is 1 Darcy, and its depth is 700 ft. Astimulation of the coalbed reservoir is performed by injecting 60thousand standard cubic feet per day for 10 days. The producer issubsequently placed on production for the remainder of one year. Thecumulative coalbed methane production as a function of time is shown inFIG. 8. Also shown in FIG. 8 is the cumulative coalbed methaneproduction that results from a conventional gas depletion procedure. Thestimulated well yields a 30-fold increase in cumulative productioncompared to the conventionally produced well. The gas: water ratios forthe stimulated and unstimulated wells were 3.9 and 0.12 mscf/bbl,respectively. The maximum nitrogen content in the stimulated producer'sproduct gas was 3.0 volume percent. This example demonstrates thedramatic increases in coalbed gas production that are possible- withthis invention. It is also illustrative of the potential commercialbenefit that can be derived from the production of clean coalbed gasthat does not require any further cleanup prior to introduction into agas supply pipeline.

As a second example, a stimulation was performed on a well that waspreviously on production by a conventional depletion method for oneyear. The reservoir description and production well pattern are the sameas for the first example. A 10-day stimulation was performed as before.The cumulative production history for the stimulated well and the wellthat is continuing to be produced on primary are compared for the secondyear of production as shown in FIG. 9. The stimulated well produced 40volume percent more coalbed methane. The gas: water ratios for thestimulated and unstimulated procedures were 8.7 and 6.1 mscf/bbl,respectively. The maximum nitrogen content in the stimulated producer'sproduct gas was less than 5.0 volume percent. This example demonstratesthat a substantial increase in coalbed methane production is possiblewhen the technique is applied to a well that is already underproduction.

It should be understood that the apparatuses and methods of theembodiments of the present invention and many of its attendantadvantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it willbe apparent that various changes may be made in the form, constructionand arrangement of the parts thereof without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred orexemplary embodiment thereof.

Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates toelements of the invention, the words for each element may be expressedby equivalent apparatus terms or method terms--even if only the functionor result is the same. Such equivalent, broader, or even more genericterms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of eachelement or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to makeexplicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention isentitled. As but one example, it should be understood that all actionmay be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an elementwhich causes that action. Similarly, each physical element disclosedshould be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which thatphysical element facilitates. Regarding this last aspect, and as but oneexample the disclosure of a “stimulated coalbed reservoir” should beunderstood to encompass disclosure of the act of “stimulating a coalbedreservoir”—whether explicitly discussed or not—and, conversely, werethere only disclosure of the act of “stimulating a coalbed reservoir”,such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of a“stimulated coalbed reservoir”. Such changes and alternative terms areto be understood to be explicitly included in the description.

Any references mentioned, including but not limited to the references inthe application to a “Development Of A Portable Data Acquisition SystemAnd Coalbed Methane Simulator, Part 2: Development Of A Coalbed MethaneSimulator” are hereby incorporated by reference or should be consideredas additional text or as an additional exhibits or attachments to thisapplication to the extent permitted; however, to the extent statementsmight be considered inconsistent with the patenting of this/theseinvention(s) such statements are expressly not to be considered as madeby the applicant. Further, the disclosure should be understood toinclude support for each feature, component, and step shown as separateand independent inventions as well as the various combinations andpermutations of each.

1. An apparatus for coalbed gas production comprising: a coalbedstructure having a permeability characteristic; at least one productionwell which communicates with said coalbed structure; a stimulation gashaving a pressure in a range which alters said permeabilitycharacteristic of said coalbed structure and which avoids disruption ofsaid coalbed structure; a stimulation gas transfer element; a productionwell coupling element responsive to said stimulation gas transferelement and said production well; and a reduced water permeabilitycoalbed.
 2. An apparatus for coalbed gas production as described inclaim 1 wherein said stimulation gas having said pressure in a rangewhich alters said permeability characteristic of said coalbed structureand which avoids disruption of said coalbed structure is not greaterthan a pressure necessary to reduce said water permeability coalbed. 3.An apparatus for coalbed gas production as described in claim 2 furthercomprising: coalbed gas sorbed on said coalbed structure; desorbedcoalbed gas from said reduced water permeability coalbed; a desorbedcoalbed gas removal system; and desorbed coalbed gas removed from saidreduced water permeability coalbed through said production well.
 4. Anapparatus for coalbed gas production as described in claim 1 or 3further comprising: water in at least a portion of a coalbed gasreservoir; a calculated water displacement pressure not substantiallylarger than a hydrostatic pressure to displace at least a portion ofsaid water from said coalbed gas reservoir; a water displacementperimeter; and at least one water confinement well to communicate withsaid water located at about said water displacement perimeter.
 5. Anapparatus for coalbed gas production as described in claim 4 whereinsaid at least one water confinement well has a location at about saidwater displacement perimeter and assists said production well to removecoalbed gas at a rate which is never less than a desorption rate of saidcoalbed structure.
 6. An apparatus for coalbed gas production asdescribed in claim 5 further comprising: an appropriate volume of saidstimulation gas based upon said permeability characteristic.
 7. Anapparatus for coalbed gas production as described in claim 6 whereinsaid appropriate volume of said stimulation gas based upon saidpermeability characteristic results in coalbed gas removed from saidstimulated coalbed gas reservoir which contains less than four percentstimulation gas per unit volume.
 8. An apparatus for coalbed gasproduction as described in claim 3 further comprising: a calculatedcoalbed gas desorption rate at which said coalbed gas desorbs from saidcoalbed structure; and a coalbed gas removal element having a calculatedcoalbed gas removal rate which is never less than said calculatedcoalbed gas desorption rate.
 9. An apparatus for coalbed gas productionas described in claim 4 wherein said at least one production well has alocation approximately at a centroid of an approximately 40 acre to 320acre tract of land.
 10. An apparatus for coalbed gas production asdescribed in claim 9 wherein said approximately 40 acre to 320 acretract of land has a substantially square perimeter.
 11. An apparatus forcoalbed gas production as described in claim 10 wherein said at leastone water confinement well comprises locating four water confinementwells located at corners of said substantially square perimeter aroundsaid tract of land.
 12. An apparatus for coalbed gas production asdescribed in claim 10 wherein said approximately 40 acre to 320 acretract of land having said substantially square perimeter has a locationadjacent to another approximately 40 acre to 320 acre tract of landhaving a production well.
 13. An apparatus for coalbed gas production asdescribed in claim 1, 3 or 8 wherein said stimulation gas is selectedfrom a group consisting of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, air, and gas lesssorptive to coal than methane.
 14. A method of producing coalbed gas,which comprises the steps of: locating a coalbed structure having awater permeability characteristic; establishing at least one productionwell to communicate with said coalbed structure; providing a stimulationgas; injecting said stimulation gas in a manner which avoids disturbingsaid coalbed structure; and altering said water permeabilitycharacteristic of said coalbed structure through injection of saidstimulation gas in a vicinity of said at least one production well. 15.A method of producing coalbed gas as described in claim 14 wherein saidstep of providing said stimulation gas comprises providing stimulationgas having a pressure which is not greater than a pressure necessary toreduce said water permeability of said coalbed structure.
 16. A methodof producing coalbed gas as described in claim 15 and further comprisingthe steps of: locating coalbed gas sorbed on said coalbed structure;desorbing coalbed gas from said coalbed having said water permeabilitycharacteristic altered by said stimulation gas; and removing desorbedcoalbed gas from said coalbed structure.
 17. A method of producingcoalbed gas as described in claim 15 wherein said step of providing saidstimulation gas having a pressure which is not greater than a pressurenecessary to reduce said water permeability of said coalbed structurecomprises using a stimulation gas pressure calculation element.
 18. Amethod of producing coalbed gas as described in claim 1 or 16 andfurther comprising the step of calculating an appropriate volume of saidstimulation gas to inject into said coalbed structure based upon acharacteristic of said coalbed structure which results in producedcoalbed gas from said production well having less than four percentstimulation gas per unit volume of produced coalbed gas.
 19. A method ofproducing coalbed gas as described in claim 1 or 16 and furthercomprising the step of calculating an appropriate volume of said coalbedstimulation gas to inject into said coalbed based upon a characteristicof said coalbed which results in produced coalbed gas from saidproduction well having less than ten percent stimulation gas per unitvolume of produced coalbed gas.
 20. A method of producing coalbed gas asdescribed in claim 14 which further comprises the steps of: locatingwater in at least a portion of a coalbed gas reservoir; calculating awater displacement pressure not substantially larger than saidhydrostatic pressure to displace at least a portion of said water fromsaid coalbed gas reservoir; displacing said water in said at least aportion of said coalbed gas reservoir; establishing a water displacementperimeter; establishing at least one water confinement well tocommunicate with said water located at about said water displacementperimeter; and maintaining said water displacement perimeter by removingsaid water encroaching upon said water displacement perimeter.
 21. Amethod of producing coalbed gas as described in claim 20 which furthercomprises the steps of calculating a coalbed gas desorption rate atwhich said coalbed gas desorbs from said coal and wherein said step ofremoving coalbed gas from said coalbed gas reservoir has a rate which isnever less than said calculated coalbed gas desorption rate.
 22. Amethod of producing coalbed gas as described in claim 21 wherein saidstep of removing coalbed gas from said coalbed gas reservoir at saidrate comprises removing coalbed gas from said water confinement wells.23. A coalbed gas produced in accordance with the method of claim 14, 16or
 20. 24. A method of producing coalbed gas as described in claim 14wherein said step of establishing said at least one production wellcomprises locating said production well approximately at a centroid ofan approximately 40 acre to 320 acre tract of land.
 25. A method ofproducing coalbed gas as described in claim 24 wherein said locatingsaid production well approximately at said centroid of saidapproximately 40 acre to 320 acre tract of land comprises establishing asubstantially square perimeter having four confinement wells located atabout the corners of said substantially square perimeter.
 26. A methodof producing coalbed gas as described in claim 25 further comprising thestep of locating said at least one production well at a centroid of anapproximately 40 acre to 320 acre tract adjacent to an approximately 40acre to 320 acre tract having a production well.
 27. A method ofproducing coalbed gas as described in claim 14, 16, 20 or 21, whereinsaid step of injecting a stimulation gas into said coalbed structurecomprises injecting a gas selected from a group consisting of nitrogen,carbon dioxide, air, and gas less sorptive to coal than methane.